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Reposted by David Hughes

Emma Meredith @emmameredith.bsky.social · May 1

Another excellent College Alliance meeting - always so much to take away from conversations with our neighbours - to build stronger, adaptive systems.

@aoc-info.bsky.social @lewis-cooper.bsky.social @hughesdavid.bsky.social

Rachel Cable @rachcable.bsky.social · May 1

Good to be at Ayreshire College in Scotland this week at the Colleges Alliance meeting, hosted by @aoc-info.bsky.social. An opportunity to reflect on the college workforce of the future, and discuss shared challenges across the UK and Ireland, learning from our different systems. @colegau.cymru

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Reposted by David Hughes

FE Week @feweek.bsky.social · Apr 16

📣 The FE commissioner's report into Weston College is 'a must-read for all college leaders on how not to do' governance, says @hughesdavid.bsky.social of @aoc-info.bsky.social

feweek.co.uk

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Reposted by David Hughes

FE Week @feweek.bsky.social · Apr 6

📣 Schools prove pupil premium funding works; so why stop it at 16?
@hughesdavid.bsky.social @aliceeardley.bsky.social @aoc-info.bsky.social @brilliantclub.bsky.social @thefea.bsky.social @ascl-uk.bsky.social @theaccessproject.org.uk @suttontrust.bsky.social

feweek.co.uk

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Reposted by David Hughes

Association of Colleges @aoc-info.bsky.social · Mar 26

"It will open up thousands of opportunities for young people and adults to get the skills they need and which employers are crying out for." - @hughesdavid.bsky.social welcomes the Chancellor's £625 million college infrastructure investment. Read our full response here: aoc.co.uk/news-campaig...

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David Hughes @hughesdavid.bsky.social · Mar 23

Great to see this package of measures helping colleges to scale up their construction training, in partnership with employers. Looking forward to working with DfE on making it happen. Pleased that colleges being recognised for how vital they are on this

FE Week @feweek.bsky.social · Mar 22

👷‍♀️ The chancellor has announced plans to invest over half a £bn into training new construction workers through 10 ‘technical excellence colleges’, more skills bootcamps and financial incentives for foundation apprenticeships

Chancellor to pour £600m into construction training

The chancellor announces £600m investment into training construction workers, 10 new ‘technical excellence colleges’ and foundation apprenticeships.

feweek.co.uk

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Reposted by David Hughes

Association of Colleges @aoc-info.bsky.social · Mar 18

Join us from 4pm-5pm on Thursday 20 March for our Colleges' National Green Week live Q&A to hear from South Thames College and London South East Colleges on how they have built sustainable learning environments. #CNGW2025

Register here: t.co/pg1D4ww44q

Graphic which reads:

Live Q&A: resources for engaging students in eco-friendly education, 4-5pm Thursday 20 March, online via zoom, Colleges' National Green Week 17-21 March 2025.

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Reposted by David Hughes

Association of Colleges @aoc-info.bsky.social · Mar 17

Register now for our Colleges' National Green Week live Q&A on Thursday 20 March! Watch our on-demand webinar to see how South Thames College and London South East Colleges have built sustainable learning environments and then join us for this interactive session! #CNGW2025
aoc.co.uk/corporate-se...

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David Hughes @hughesdavid.bsky.social · Feb 11

Congratulations to the newly appointed leadership team at #SkillsEngland. Looking forward to working with them to help establish a better, coherent, inclusive post-16 education and skills system

FE Week @feweek.bsky.social · Feb 11

A tech industry leader and a former DfE permanent secretary have been selected to lead Skills England as chair and vice chair

And two job-sharing civil servants will take the reins as joint CEOs of the new agency

feweek.co.uk/tech-exec-an...

Tech exec and ex-DfE perm sec to lead Skills England

Phil Smith and David Bell named chair and vice chair respectively, while two senior civil servants will jobshare as CEO

feweek.co.uk

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Reposted by David Hughes

Seb Schmoller @schmoller.net · Feb 7

Cuts in funding for adult education appear to be in the pipeline. With that in mind, it is worth reading yesterday's House of Lords speech by the Skills Minister, Jacqui Smith, who summarises the social and economic value of adult education:
hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2025-0...

Lifelong Learning - Hansard - UK Parliament

Hansard record of the item : 'Lifelong Learning' on Thursday 6 February 2025.

hansard.parliament.uk

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David Hughes @hughesdavid.bsky.social · Feb 6

Excellent discussion today about skills needs & enormous potential for fair growth in #LiverpoolCityRegion with @darrenpjones.bsky.social & @metromayorsteve.bsky.social at the nearly finished impressive new Everton stadium, a beacon for regenerating the docks over next decade

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Reposted by David Hughes

Association of Colleges @aoc-info.bsky.social · Jan 30

"Colleges have the facilities to educate and train people for a changing economy but need to work with government to ensure these are suitable, sustainable and sufficient to support national skills priorities" - @hughesdavid.bsky.social.

Read our full response here:
www.aoc.co.uk/news-campaig...

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David Hughes @hughesdavid.bsky.social · Jan 28

Yes @pmdfoster.bsky.social has made a big effort to understand. As has Branwen Jeffrey's at BBC, but editors still blocking as they have no experience in colleges

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Reposted by David Hughes

Association of Colleges @aoc-info.bsky.social · Jan 27

"Teaching about past atrocities can help encourage students to challenge hatred, racism and discrimination in the here and now," says Eddie Playfair, Senior Policy Manager at AoC, in our new blog on #InternationalHolocaustRemembranceDay.

Read more:
www.aoc.co.uk/news-campaig...

Graphic reads "International Holocaust Remembrance Day."

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David Hughes @hughesdavid.bsky.social · Jan 28

yes, it shows how difficult the mainstream media find it to understand the college world @sebschmoller.bsky.social

Seb Schmoller @schmoller.net · Jan 28

It is a welcome editorial. However it has to be said that its focus on teenage students (and on sixth form colleges) is itself an example of media ignorance of the scale, scope and economic/social value of Further and Adult Education.

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David Hughes @hughesdavid.bsky.social · Jan 28

Good to see @theguardian.com recognise need to invest more in colleges to address pay gaps with school teachers. General further education college lecturers just as badly affected. Low pay means colleges cannot recruit lecturers in skills vital for growth www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The Guardian view on teachers’ pay: colleges don’t deserve second-class status | Editorial

Editorial: College staff deserve a pay rise along with their peers. Widening the gap with schools would be a serious mistake

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by David Hughes

Association of Colleges @aoc-info.bsky.social · Jan 15

"We were heartened by the discussion of the role of colleges in the PAC’s evidence session for this inquiry, and it would have been good to see greater recognition of that role in today’s report." - David Holloway responds to new Public Accounts Committee report.
www.aoc.co.uk/news-campaig...

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Reposted by David Hughes

Association of Colleges @aoc-info.bsky.social · Jan 13

“If the government wants to achieve its missions and ambitions for economic growth and fairness, additional, sustainable investment across all post-16 education must be provided in the spring spending review.” says @hughesdavid.bsky.social.

Read in full: www.aoc.co.uk/news-campaig...

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David Hughes @hughesdavid.bsky.social · Jan 10

Another year & another report, picked up by @pmdfoster.bsky.social highlighting the shocking underinvestment in post-16 education & skills after 14 years of austerity. The government's missions are at risk of under-delivery without more investment in colleges on.ft.com/4aaOQBi

UK school budgets eroded by spiralling special needs costs, report shows

SEN spending and higher wages leave headteachers facing ‘very tight’ accounts in 2025, says IFS

on.ft.com

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David Hughes @hughesdavid.bsky.social · Jan 6

Good to see David moving over into college leadership

Shane Chowen @ukshane.bsky.social · Jan 6

ESFA chief David Withey will become a college principal when the agency winds down later this year

feweek.co.uk/esfa-chief-d...

ESFA chief David Withey to become college principal

He will lead a college in the south west when the agency closes in March

feweek.co.uk

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David Hughes @hughesdavid.bsky.social · Jan 6

Great analysis, exposing severe problem for economic growth, inclusion & fairness. Skills England will have a big job to do to change this

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David Hughes @hughesdavid.bsky.social · Dec 18

Great to have you on the @aoc-info.bsky.social #FEHallofFame Stuart Deeley

Association of Colleges @aoc-info.bsky.social · Dec 18

We are happy to reveal that Stuart Deeley, former student of
Halesowen College, has been honoured in our #FEHallofFame for his dedication to his craft and his commitment to mentoring the next generation of chefs. Congratulations! Read more: aoc.co.uk/awards/fe-ha...

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David Hughes @hughesdavid.bsky.social · Dec 16

Great to have you signed up @bridgendcollege.bsky.social

Joe Baldwin @josephbaldwin.bsky.social · Dec 13

We have signed the @aoc-info.bsky.social Equity, Diversity and Inclsuion Charter, reaffirming our commitment to building a safe and kind community @bridgendcollege.bsky.social.

Read more about our commitment: www.bridgend.ac.uk/college-sign...

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David Hughes @hughesdavid.bsky.social · Dec 16

A very warm welcome @joshbabarinde.bsky.social to our #FEHallofFame

Association of Colleges @aoc-info.bsky.social · Dec 16

We are thrilled to reveal that @joshbabarinde.bsky.social, former student of East Sussex College, has been honoured in our #FEHallofFame for his outstanding achievements and positive impact on both individuals and the broader community.

Read more: www.aoc.co.uk/awards/fe-ha...

Graphic reads "Association of Colleges Presents the FE Hall of Fame. Josh Babarinde OBE MP. Josh Babarinde OBE MP is a proud alum of East Sussex College and has recently been elected as the Liberal Democrat MP for Eastbourne."

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David Hughes @hughesdavid.bsky.social · Dec 16

Good to see John Widdowson as part of this, ensuring there is an informed FE college voice. Before they propose a university in Wakefield, perhaps better investment in the college for young people and adults might be a start

Jim Dickinson @jimdickinson.bsky.social · Dec 16

"A university for Wakefield? Professor leading new study says ‘nothing is off the table’"

A university for Wakefield? Professor leading new study says ‘nothing is off the table’

A leading academic heading up a commission into higher education in Wakefield said “hard questions” need to be answered over how best to equip people with the right skills to boost the region’s...

buff.ly

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Reposted by David Hughes

Association of Colleges @aoc-info.bsky.social · Dec 13

“For too long pay in further education has lagged behind both schools and industry, with detrimental effects on the sector and wider economy” - @hughesdavid.bsky.social calls on the STRB to support a pay increase for FE staff and outlines three ambitions on college pay. t.co/hco167NDqc

David Hughes quote graphic:

“For too long pay in further education has lagged behind both schools and industry, with detrimental effects on the sector and wider economy, and we are hopeful that this is a positive step towards ensuring colleges have the funding they need to close the pay gap.”

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